Archive May 30, 2025

French Open 2025

Location: Roland Garros, May 25 – June

Three British men have advanced to the third round of the French Open singles for the first time in almost 60 years.

In a Thursday night thriller, Jack Draper defeated home favorite Gael Monfils to join Jacob Fearnley and Cameron Norrie in the 32-player field.

Federico Gomez, an Argentine qualifier, was defeated by Norrie, while Fearnley advanced after his French foe, Ugo Humbert, retired with an injury.

And with Norrie and Fearnley meeting on Saturday night, there is a chance of at least one Briton in the fourth round for the first time in eight years.

Andy Murray, the former world number one, has been a raro for British men on Roland Garros’ clay courts since 1968, but that is no longer the case.

Draper, the British no. 1, has since reached the Madrid Open final last month and is now ranked fifth in the world.

After a difficult first few years, Norrie, 29, and Fearnley, 23, both made encouraging progress in their first full professional seasons.

Such advancement has not happened overnight.

During her professional career, former British number one Annabel Croft traveled to America to practice on clay.

It appeared to be from an alien planet. It was similar to other players who had recently arrived from America and started playing grass. She remarked on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra that it was “like a different sport.”

“When you suddenly go on to a clay court, the ball is coming back, and you learned how to make a point.

The entire mentality transforms into something entirely new.

Another inquest into the lack of British success on clay was resulted from last year’s first-round wipeout of British singles players.

British players historically have had less exposure to clay courts than many of their rivals, especially those from other European and South American countries.

According to the LTA, there were approximately 1,300 clay courts in Great Britain in 2024, or roughly 5% of the 23, 000 total courts. In contrast, clay is used to make up 60% of Spain’s top-of-the-surface courts.

The National Tennis Centre in Roehampton has four clay courts constructed to the same standards as those at the Monte Carlo Masters.

In order for young players to attend camps and training sessions, the governing body is also “forming new partnerships” with clay-court facilities in Barcelona and Girona.

Both Norrie and Fearnley both attended Texas Christian University in America, where they both majored in their respective fields. It aided in the development of a “steady mentality,” which is so important on clay courts.

“Norrie is very much someone Fearnley and the others at TCU looked up to,” said BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller.

After winning Indian Wells and achieving success in other major tournaments, Norrie would return to practice while he was an ATP Tour player.

Norrie was the model Norrie and Fearnley were attempting to emulate when they had the opportunity to practice with him.

In a video posted by the LTA before the season started, Draper and Fearnley were shown sliding.

One of the most important abilities that players need to master to succeed on clay is sliding.

It was probably my first time doing it since maybe 2017, according to Fearnley when that video was taken.

It’s still something I’m getting used to, and feeling the movement is crucial.

The tennis stays essentially the same, but the movement is different, according to one expert.

Players can return the ball from a defensive position with a slide-in to a shot and change their position more quickly to make a more aggressive shot.

Because clay is a much slower surface than grass, it results in more rallies, longer points, and more running.

A high level of fitness is unavoidable, and it is one of the main factors in Draper’s success on clay this year. Both Fearnley and Norrie are engine-driven, as well.

Players must also feel at ease when using a different approach.

Rafael Nadal, a 14-time champion, has his lefty forehand in mind when you think of him playing at the French Open.

He hit with heavy top spin, which was a key component of his success, thanks to his grip and follow-through with the racquet.

French Open 2025

Dates: 25 May-8 June Venue: Roland Garros

For the first time in almost 60 years, three British men have reached the French Open singles third round.

Jack Draper beat home favourite Gael Monfils in a Thursday night thriller to join Jacob Fearnley and Cameron Norrie in the last 32.

Norrie had earlier overcome Argentine qualifier Federico Gomez, while Fearnley progressed when French opponent Ugo Humbert retired with injury.

And there is guaranteed to be at least one Briton in the fourth round for the first time in eight years, with Norrie and Fearnley meeting on Saturday night.

Success has been scarce for British men on the clay courts at Roland Garros since 1968 – former world number one Andy Murray aside.

British number one Draper has become a genuine force on clay, having reached the Madrid Open final last month and climbed to fifth in the world.

Fearnley, also 23, is continuing to make encouraging strides in his first full season as a professional, while 29-year-old Norrie has rediscovered his form after a testing few years.

Such progress has not happened overnight.

Former British number one Annabel Croft travelled to America to train on clay during her playing career.

“It was such an alien surface. It was like other players coming over from America and learning how to play on grass. It was like a different sport,” she said on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra.

“When you’re suddenly going on to a clay court, the ball is coming back and you learned how to construct a point.

“The whole mentality becomes something completely different.”

Last year’s first-round wipeout of British singles players prompted another inquest into the lack of British success on clay.

Historically, British players have not had as much exposure to clay courts as many of their rivals, particularly those from other European and South American nations.

The LTA said in 2024 there were about 1,300 clay-courts in Great Britain – around 5% of the 23,000 total number of courts. In contrast, about 60% of courts in Spain – one of the leading nations on the surface – are clay.

The LTA has four clay courts – built to the same specification of the courts used at the Monte Carlo Masters – at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton.

The governing body is also continuing to “form new partnerships” with clay-court facilities in Barcelona and Girona so young players can attend camps and training sessions.

Norrie and Fearnley’s development took place overseas, with both players attending the Texas Christian University in America. It helped develop a steely mentality – something so crucial on clay courts.

“Norrie is very much somebody who Fearnley and the others at TCU looked up to,” said BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller.

“Norrie would come back to practice while he was an ATP Tour player after he won Indian Wells and had success in other big tournaments.

“Fearnley and the others got a chance to practice with him and Norrie was the man they were trying to emulate.

Before the season began, Draper and Fearnley were shown practising sliding in a video posted by the LTA.

Sliding is one of the key skills players must master to succeed on clay.

“When that video was taken, it was probably the first time I was doing it since maybe 2017,” Fearnley said.

“It’s still something I’m getting used to, and it is extremely important, feeling the movement.

“I would say that is probably the biggest difference on clay – the tennis stays pretty similar, but it’s more the movement that is different.”

By being able to slide in to a shot, players can return the ball from a defensive position, and adjust their position more quickly to play a more aggressive shot.

Clay is a much slower surface than grass, which leads to longer points, more rallies and more running.

A high level of fitness is non-negotiable – and has been one of the key reasons for Draper’s success on clay this year. Fearnley and Norrie are both renowned for their engines, too.

Players must also be comfortable hitting the ball in a different way.

When you think of 14-time champion Rafael Nadal holding court at the French Open, it is his lefty forehand that comes to mind.

The grip and follow-through with the racquet allowed him to hit with heavy top spin – a key component of his success.

Jeremie Frimpong has been signed for 35 million euros (£29.95 million) from Bayer Leverkusen on a five-year deal by Liverpool.

The Premier League champions ratified their move for Dutch international Frimpong after activating the 24-year-old’s release clause just hours after Real Madrid announced Trent Alexander-Arnold would join them in time to compete in the Club World Cup.

Frimpong, a versatile right-footer, is regarded as Alexander-Arnold’s replacement in Arne Slot’s squad.

He contributed significantly to Leverkusen’s 2023-2024 title defense and made 53 appearances overall as they finished second overall in 24-25.

Before making a move to Leverkusen in January 2021, the Dutchman started out at Manchester City as a youth and later joined Celtic.

At Liverpool, Frimpong joins Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo, and Ryan Gravenberch from the Netherlands.

Leverkusen and Liverpool are also interested in signing Florian Wirtz.

The club have advanced their bids for German international Wirtz, with a total of about £109 million.